Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2021 21 sons still undisclosed) and a pair of foot fractures in 2020, practice-field domination hasn't carried over to games. Notre Dame needs it to in 2021. Austin has offered teases by pull- ing back the cloak for a few brief moments. A five-reception sample as a freshman in 2018 included a 38- yard catch-and-run versus Navy that showcased his acceleration. His 18- yard catch and overturned touch- down in 2020 against Louisville were intriguing flashes. The early stages of 2021 fall camp are as well. Even after all the speed bumps, Austin still has a featured role in front of him, right there to snatch. To Notre Dame, it's no worry he has six career catches and played in just two games since 2019. If Austin is on the field, the Irish are confident they have a go-to target. His behind-the-scenes work is enough evidence for them. "He hasn't done it over a long period of time," head coach Brian Kelly told Blue & Gold Illustrated in June, "but we're not unrealistic in our expectations." 'HE CAN CHANGE THE GAME' Down in South Florida, Rex Not- tage has heard three years' worth of Austin praise coming from South Bend and thinks it sounds about right. Too much pressure? Nope. An unrealistic outlook? Not at all. Before Austin's potential struck those at Notre Dame, it floored Not- tage the day Austin showed up to Coconut Creek (Fla.) North Broward Prep as a high school sophomore. Nottage, North Broward's head coach, saw a gifted athlete he wanted to immerse in his offense right away. "He was already 6-2 and 175-180 [pounds] going into his sophomore year," Nottage said. "It's like, 'Wow, he looks like a specimen.'" Austin sure produced like one. In his first season, he hauled in 43 re- ceptions for 713 yards and 12 touch- downs as North Broward's No. 2 receiver. As a junior and the No. 1 target, he bumped his output to 1,021 yards on only 41 catches (24.5 yards per reception) and scored 13 touch- downs. In his final year, he netted 761 yards and 11 scores on 35 grabs. This was no instance of talent not meeting production. Everyone knew North Broward wanted to feed him the ball, especially in critical late- game moments, but it didn't matter. Austin still thwarted defenses' plans and coverages. His athletic traits are often too much for Notre Dame's de- fensive players to handle, let alone Florida high school defenders. "In the long run, you have a kid who has NFL potential because of his size, speed and what he can bring to the table," Nottage said. "He can change the game." A healthy Austin should help Notre Dame unlock a vertical pass- ing dimension it didn't have in 2020, but to peg him into just that role is to appreciate only a fraction of his skill set. Nottage gave Austin 84 rushing attempts over his final two seasons as another way of ensuring he touched the ball. He averaged 10.0 yards on those carries, a nod to his speed, vi- sion, acceleration and strength. His Irish teammates also appreci- ate those aspects of his game. When asked to name Notre Dame's fastest players, Davis floated Austin's name. He's just as dangerous with the ball in his hands as he is when trying to catch it. Notre Dame envisions him burning defenses on short and in- termediate routes, too. Like he did in 2018 against Navy. Like he did to Hart in that practice. "We're going to feature him," Kelly said. "He's not going to be a guy who just runs down the field. You'll see him come across the field and opening up the opportunity to run and catch." 'ULTIMATE TEAMMATE' The press release with sour news hit Twitter days shy of 2020 fall camp. It announced Austin had broken his foot during football activities in late July and had surgery a few days later. Kelly later divulged an eight- to 12-week recovery timeline. Austin returned on the front end for a three-snap cameo Oct. 10 against Florida State. A week later, he played 22 snaps against Louisville. Notre Dame planned to take the leash off Oct. 24 at Pitt. Austin could sense it. "We're getting ready to play Pitt, and he was unbelievable," offen- sive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "There was a lot of stuff we had de- signed for him." Instead, Austin eventually emerged from the Heinz Field tunnel that day in street clothes and a walking boot. Two days earlier, he re-broke the same foot in practice. Season over. Instead of resetting the screw inserted in the first procedure, he and Notre Dame opted for a bone graft. It knocked him out for all of spring practice. Nonetheless, the player with two appearances in two seasons entered fall camp with the same opportunity he had in 2020: start and be the No. 1 receiver. It may not be the best re- flection on the receiving corps that a senior with six career catches is such a pivotal figure, but Austin reach- ing that point again doesn't happen without his level-headed nature and attacking his rehab. "Kevin carries himself at such a high level that I feel like his injury hurt everyone else more than it hurt him," Davis said. "Every day, he's coming into rehab smiling, asking how we're doing. He's locked in dur- ing meetings. He just tuned in and wanted to help how- ever he can. He's the ultimate teammate." That's another trans- latable skill from high school, when he was a prominent voice and supportive presence in North Broward's locker room. "If you were not doing what you're supposed to, he got on you," Nottage said. "If you were the strength of the team or the weak link, he was going to push you." In the spring, all he could do on the field was encourage teammates. Even now, fully healthy, he hasn't stopped. He's one of Notre Dame's chattiest players on the practice field, quick to provide a high-five or word of encouragement. When the first-team offense ended its portion of Notre Dame's Aug. 9 scrimmage, Austin stood as close to the action as he could and fixated on it. "There we go Logan!" he yelled when freshman running back Logan Diggs broke a big gain on a catch- and-run. He acts like every teammate's big- gest fan. It's only fitting, given their support has helped him reach the cusp of his long-elusive chance. "In the whole program, there's so much joy for that young man right now to fight through everything he has gone through," Rees said, "and to put himself in a position to play and help this team win games." ✦ "He hasn't done it over a long period of time, but we're not unrealistic in our expectations." HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON AUSTIN